Judges’ appointments: Plea for revamp of selection process put off

Petitioner asked the court to annul the procedure for the appointment of judges as ultra vires to the Constitution.

LAHORE:

Justice Ijazul Ahsan of the Lahore High Court on Tuesday adjourned indefinitely a petition calling for judges to be selected through extensive testing rather than via the Supreme Judicial Council. 

Justice Ahsan had earlier appointed lawyer Shehzad Shaukat as amicus curiae to assist the court on the matter. Tuesday’s hearing was put off due to a lack of time. Malik Tariq Aziz, counsel for the petitioner, Lawyers Foundation President Syed Feroz Shah Gilani, has argued that the existing procedure for the appointment of judges – through selection by the Supreme Judicial Council – encourages favouritism and nepotism. Aziz suggested that vacancies in the superior courts should be advertised in the press and the applicants should undergo a rigorous assessment process, including a written exam, interview and psychological test. This was how judges were appointed in England, he said. He asked the court to annul the procedure for the appointment of judges as ultra vires to the Constitution.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2013.